Answers to 15 Burning Questions About the Keto Diet

Given the information available about the ketogenic diet, you might wonder if it's right for you. Most people eat very few carbs, fats, and protein on a ketogenic diet. Do I reach a point where I can't eat more bacon and butter? Is it true that following a ketogenic diet is the best way to lose weight? It's possible that doing so would cause many more problems than it would solve. In the next section, you'll find answers to the questions often asked.

1. Is it safe to do the Ketogenic Diet?

The ketogenic diet is not necessary for good health. The Epilepsy Foundation recommends the ketogenic diet to treat epileptic seizures. For some people, a ketogenic diet may be medically necessary.

2. Is the Keto diet safe to follow?

Ketosis caused by a change in diet has not been shown to cause any serious long-term problems. This could be good news for people who worry about how a very high-fat diet will affect their health in the long run. Ketosis is a normal metabolic state when you are on a ketogenic diet. This is why you lose weight.

3. Is Ketosis Bad?

Carbohydrate metabolism is the main way by which macronutrients are broken down in the body. This puts the body's metabolism into ketosis, where fat is removed for energy instead of stored. The keto flu is an outlier because "several studies have shown that putting your body into ketosis through diet doesn't have any negative effects that are noticeable in the short term."

4. How many carbs should I expect to eat while on the Keto diet?

Many nutritionists and registered dietitians in White Plains, New York, say that the macros for a ketogenic diet are 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5–10% carbohydrates. Even though everyone has different nutritional needs, the recommended daily carbohydrate intake is between 20 and 50 grams (g).

5. Is drinking alcohol safe while on the Keto diet?

Yes. Even though alcohol is often high in carbs, it's OK to drink a little. It's essential to remember that on days when you drink alcohol, you may need to cut back on other carbs.

6. How much weight can you lose on the Keto diet?

Several individuals who followed the ketogenic eating plan lost a lot of weight, even though they were very overweight, to begin with. These people have changed a lot physically.

7. If I'm on a ketogenic diet, can I eat fruits?

Most people on the keto diet don't eat fruit because it's not the leading food. Fruit is rarely used in diets because it has a lot of sugar. People often say you should only eat small amounts of berries and other low-carb fruits. To be more specific, both avocados and coconuts, which are high in fat, are classified as fruits by botanists.

8. Can I still snack on popcorn, oats, and yogurt if I'm on a ketogenic diet?

You shouldn't eat foods like popcorn and oats high in carbs on the ketogenic diet. One cup of air-popped popcorn has 5 g of net carbs, which is about a quarter of your daily carbohydrate limit. A cup of popcorn only has 30 calories and 0 grams of fat, so it won't keep you full for long. Most likely, oatmeal won't do any good, either.

9. Should I be worried about the symptoms of Keto Flu?

If you have read anything about the ketogenic diet, you have probably heard of the "keto flu." The keto flu is an actual illness that can be treated. Your body has evolved to need carbohydrates, so you need to eat a lot of them so they can work as well as possible.

10. Will I get kidney stones if I follow the Keto diet?

Adding more protein to your diet makes it very likely that you will form kidney stones. Some well-known dietitians say that you may be more likely to get kidney stones if you eat a lot of red meat and don't drink enough water.

11. Would going on a Keto diet mess up my period?

Menstruation can change in some situations. "Younger women who eat a very low-carb diet for a long time end up with periods that come and go or don't come at all." When women cut back on carbs a lot, they put stress on their adrenal glands, which can change hormone levels and throw off their menstrual cycle. This can also happen when you lose weight quickly, as said above.

12. How long does a person have to be on the Keto diet to lose weight?

People's personal experiences with the ketogenic diet show that it helps them lose weight quickly. A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology showed that people who followed the ketogenic diet lost an average of 44 pounds over the course of four months. But because we don't know what will happen if people stay in ketosis for a long time and might need more nutrients, we recommend that they should stay in ketosis for up to 12 weeks.

13. Can you tell me how the ketogenic diet will affect my cholesterol levels?

The ketogenic diet is so interesting because it often leads to weight loss, which can improve blood lipid levels. Butter, bacon, milk, and coconut oil are all excellent sources of saturated fat that can help you eat more of it now.

14. On the Keto diet, how much protein can I eat?

20–25% of the calories you eat on a ketogenic diet should come from protein. People often think this diet has a lot of protein, but it has about the same amount as the average diet.

15. Can a ketogenic diet cure Type 2 diabetes?

Based on what experts know, the ketogenic diet may help some people with type 2 diabetes. In February 2017, the Journal of Medical Internet Research shared the results of a short study. For example, overweight adults with type 2 diabetes were randomly put in either the ketogenic or control groups. Both groups followed the low-fat diet that the American Diabetes Association recommends.